The television world moves so fast that by the time you learn of a show’s premiere, it could already be canceled. It’s hard to keep track of the constant stream of TV news, so Flavorwire is here to provide a weekly roundup of the most exciting — and baffling — casting and development updates. This week: lots of pilot pickups, an X-Files reboot, and a chance to watch Transparent for free.
NBC picked up three new pilots this week. The drama Game of Silence, adapted from a Turkish series, is about a lawyer who is blackmailed by childhood friends. [A.V. Club]
The two comedies are People Are Talking (about an interracial couple ) and Take It From Us (about a couple “that tells their son the lessons they learned growing up in the ’90s”). [Deadline]
Fox also ordered a few pilots, like the expected Luther remake (Idris Elba is executive producing), the sci-fi drama Frankenstein, about a corrupt cop who is brought back from the dead, and 48 Hours ‘Til Monday about “one husband’s desperate struggle to not let every weekend go completely to hell.” Oh, silly husbands and their struggles. [Deadline]
And finally, CBS ordered an untitled autobiographical pilot from comedian Tommy Johnagin and a drama pilot from Grey’s Anatomy duo Tony Phelan and Joan Rater. The drama “centers on a smart, chic, successful defense lawyer at a boutique firm who gets romantically involved with a client who may or may not be guilty of a brutal crime.” [The Wrap]
J.K. Simmons will host Saturday Night Live on January 31st, with D’Angelo (!!) as the musical guest. [EW]
Fox is looking to bring back The X-Files, and I can’t decide if I am terrified or overjoyed, so I’ll just leave it at that. [Deadline]
Amazon’s sublime Transparent, which was easily one of the best shows of 2014, is being offered for free on Amazon for 24 hours beginning Saturday. Normally, you’d need Amazon’s Prime service to watch it, so you should definitely take advantage. [Vulture]
Rob Lowe, Megan Mullally, and Jenna Fischer will all star in Apocalypse Slough, Britain Sky 1’s comedic drama that will also air on NBC. The show is about a group of unconnected people who intersect when they learn a comet is heading toward earth. Lowe will play a priest, Fischer a librarian, and Mullally a white supremacist. [THR]
Sinatra: All or Nothing at All, the two-night documentary about Frank Sinatra, will premiere on HBO Sunday, April 5th and Monday, April 6th. [HBO]
Melissa Benoist (Glee, Whiplash) will play the iconic Supergirl in CBS’ hour-long superhero drama next fall. [THR]
There will be a mini Deadwood reunion on Ray Donovan, as Ian McShane is joining the cast in a recurring role as part of a major arc in Season 3. [Variety]
Entertainment Weekly has a trailer for Hannibal Season 3.